In just one month, Barça has removed the wrinkles that flooded the face of its defense. Not so long ago, the defense evoked the one that triumphed in Berlin-2015, the last European summit conquered by the azulgranas with Luis Enrique on the bench. Xavi was sustained at the end of last season on Alves (38 years old), recovered urgently to cover the hole on the right wing, with a temporary contract, Pique (35) y Jordi Alba (33), remaining alone Araujo like an intruder (23) among so many thirty-year-olds.
Suddenly, the technician has injected an essential juvenile acne to recover the energy lost over time. And the wrinkles have suddenly disappeared, as evidenced by the step, already consolidated, of Pique and Alba to the bench, stripped of their indestructible status as starters. Now they are not.
fresh legs
In Xavi’s tactical drawing, whether with the traditional 4-3-3 or the unusual bet of the three centrals that he used in Anoeta, correction specialists are needed, with fast legs to solve any contingency, willing to live 40 meters away from the house of Ter Stegen.
No need for them to barricade themselves in the area. Quick guys to run back because the big change lies not only in his ID but in the new role he has entrusted Xavi to the sides. They should no longer be as deep as before.
Alves and Alba They were the wings of the old Barça, ready to go from end to end, with a clear offensive vocation. Now, instead, Koundé and Balde have other missions because the gangs are occupied by wingers (Raphinha on the right and Dembélé on the left), who absorb practically all the offensive responsibility. Back, meanwhile, Xavi has had no doubts about transferring the plan that he had at the end of last year.
His defense had to be rejuvenated because his system requires fresh legs so that the team does not lose structure and entrench itself too close to Ter Stegeneven if that means forgetting the exercise of commitment exhibited Pique to support Barça. He played injured because the team depended on his spirit. But football has no memory and does not wait for anyone.
Although Xavi insists that both Alba and Piqué “will play games because I need everyone”, he is forced to carry out a policy of necessary “rotations” so that no one is disconnected.
They will play, although the central defender is fifth after Koundé, Araujo, Eric and Christensen. They will play, although the winger is third on the list after Balde, who has already sat him on the bench three times, and Marcos Alonso, who has just arrived at the Camp Nou at the last moment of the market.
With Alves, Piqué, Araujo and Alba, Barça’s defense last season was 129 years old. Now, with Koundé, Araujo, Eric and Balde, there are 85
In between Alves, Pique, Araujo, the only one who was not over thirty, and Alba, were 129 years old, with an average of 32.2. At the Sanchez Pizjuan, Koundé, Araujo, the only survivor of such a profound revolution, Eric and Bucket reach 85 years, with an average of 21.2. In a couple of months, Barça has rejuvenated more than a decade, recovering concepts that it had almost forgotten over time.
And who has best observed this positive change is Ter Stegen. “After a few years that we didn’t do it this way, Xavi has recovered what we wanted to be and he is doing it spectacularly”, underlined the German goalkeeper after the 0-3 at the Sánchez Pizjuán, the third game in which the team left the clean sheet. Only Isak at Anoeta has been able to beat the youthful Barça defense. Rayo Vallecano (two shots on goal), Valladolid (three) and Sevilla (four) were left dry against Barça.
While the Barça of “airplanes”, as Eric García defined it, flies guided by Lewandowski and his cronies Raphinha y Dembele’s, Xavi seeks to build his safety net as soon as possible. Hours after Koundé was registered, the coach drew his favorite defense. And in two of the four league games he has repeated the Koundé-Araujo-Eric-Balde formula to protect Ter Stegen, although now he announces changes.
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A happy Ter Stegen because he has discovered offensive mechanisms that were rusty. “It’s very important to keep a clean sheet because we know the potential we have up top”, argued Xavi, proud of his team’s response. “It is important to defend the area, cover up centers… The defensive line is working very well and Marc is sensational”, argued the coach.
A defense that likes, as Xavi asks, to live in the open field, pushing the forwards towards the center of the field, capable as it was in Seville of making only four fouls in 95 minutes: Koundé made two; Araujo, one. Eric, one, and Bucket, none.